Annie

first i must say that i grew up with the 1982 annie. i never knew anything else. yet, i just realized that the version i always saw was edited for TV, which totally cut out easy street. i didn't know what to expect, and besides...tim curry scarred me for life as rooster when he chased annie up that bridge..to a little girl, that's scary! so, i watched the 1999 annie on abc, wondering if i was going to be scarred again. just the opposite. i 'm not a big fan of cuteness, but this movie was endearingly sweet. kathy bates was awesome with her interpretation of miss hannigan, and kristin chenoweth is just wonderful as the ditsy lily. the only thing i wasn't into was how warbucks did a complete 180 in his affections for annie. but when alan cumming came on the screen as rooster...this was the first time i'd really paid attention to a role of his (besides circle of friends). i'd watched him on talk shows all week- i just had a strange feeling. when he broke out into the first line of easy street...oh man. i was smitten right then and there. their interpretation of that song is to die for!! i had a loop of him singing one line in my head for 36 hrs...no joke. i had to go get the cd...he wouldn't leave my mind!! and he's so much less scary than tim curry. don't get me wrong, tim is a fabulous actor, but i rented the full version of the 1982 annie and... uh uh. no way. it had a nicer political feel and not such a tied up ending, but the 1999 version has heart and FABULOUS performances. i will forever be grateful for rob marshall (director) begging alan to do it...

The 1982 movie version of Annie was one of my favorite movies as a child. I have heard people criticize it many times calling it an overblown turkey, I do admit at times it does seem that way when I watch it now, especially since I am 22 years old now, but there is no comparison to this new TV version, while the 82 version may have been overblown, this new version is just plain dull and lifeless, I know they were trying to tone it down, but that doesn't mean you have to take all the personality out of it, this movie has neither wit nor humor. Aileen Quinn had spunk and energy, and a better singing voice than the Annie in this movie, when I saw her as a child I wanted to be just like her, the girl in this version didn't do anything for me. The other orphans in this movie are like cardboard cutouts they have absolutely no personality, you couldn't tell the difference between Molly and Pepper. The Hard Knock Life number which I absolutely love in the 82 version, is just flat out boring here, they just scrub the floor for 3 minutes while singing it. There is absolutely no character development in this version. Victor Garber is probably a fine actor but he is given nothing to work with in his role as Daddy Warbucks. I prefer Albert Finney in the 82 version. Warbucks meets Annie sings NYC with her and then wants to adopt her after 3 minutes. You never feel any bond between them. What is this movie trying to say? that when you first meet someone the way to form a bond is to perform a musical number together, and then they will want to adopt you immediately? I mean there should be some realism. Kathy Bates as Hannigan is okay, but cannot be compared to Carol Burnett who was hilarious in the 82 version, I don't think her performance was over the top at all. Alan Cummings was wonderful with what little he had to do, but I definitely like Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters better, they were sleazier and more villainous. The ending in this version was downright awful, they had Miss Hannigan pretending to be Annie's mother, instead of Lily. I mean they made the Annie and Grace into idiots in this movie, like they wouldn't be able to recognize her. Then they had Lily bring the cops in, like anyone would be that stupid, besides that FDR shows up with the cops, like he had nothing else to do, it was the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen!

I heard great things about this version but was very disappointed. Definitely stick with the 1982 movie version.

This spectacular new version of Annie is something nobody should miss. Songs like "Maybe" "Tomorrow" and "NYC" are just too good. This is what you call Movie Magic. Because I can't believe how amazing this movie is. It's even better then the orginal and half of that goes to little Alicia Morton who plays Annie in this irresistible remake of the all time classic!

This movie was excellent!! I can't believe how some people can actually claim the 1982 version was better. This version followed the REAL plot closely. I would like to point out to the ignorant type that the 1982 version is NOT the original Annie. Annie was a Broadway play and the 1982 version absolutely ruined the heart of the play. This version wasn't perfect, but definately much better.

Beginning with Alicia Morton: She is a sensational Annie. A beautiful voice and she's way more toned down than Aileen Quinn was. She seemed to have a much better grasp on the character. Victor Garbor was also an amazing Oliver Warbucks. Albert Finney had his moments, but he had no heart or feeling until Annie did something about it. That's ridiculous. Mrs. Hannigan is not a drunk or whore or whatever Carol Burnette decided to do. Kathy Bates seemed like a human. She wasn't violent with the kids and it seemed at some points as if she even cared about them somewhat. Audra MacDonald was terrific as Grace. She had a georgeous voice and wasn't a complete loser like the Grace in the movie.

I noticed how in the 1982 version, Annie never sings "Tomorrow" in the actual movie until she's in the whitehouse. That's the biggest song she sings!! How can you take it out? Also, they add in the stupid "Dumb Dog" song along with "We Got Annie" and "Let's Go To The Movies" and that song Mrs. Hannigan sings with Oliver Warbucks. The recent version added in the ORIGINAL song "NYC", which is a favorite of mine. They did however take out "You Won't Be An Orphan For Long", "We'd Like To Thank You Herbert Hoover", "Annie", and "We're Getting a New Deal for Christmas." Nonetheless, I was very happy to see "Something was Missing" back in. I thought Oliver should sing a song to Annie always.

The ending of the recent version was a bit different however. I was glad that they toned down the big old party at the end, though. What's up with the horses and fireworks and stuff? And then Mrs. Hannigan turns nice? Yeah, right... she woulda been arrested anyway. I did not really like how Lily St. Regis didn't participate in the scam. That to me seemed a bit odd. But, it wasn't terrible. Also, in the original stage version, there is almost no romance between Warbucks and Grace. That's where "Annie Warbucks", the stage sequel, comes into play. So both films were at fault there.

Either way, I think those who think the recent version wasn't as good as the original know absolutely nothing about the stage version. Also, I'll repeat, the 1982 version is NOT the original.

The story is presented well thanks to superb acting, especially from the convincing Alan Cumming as 'Rooster' Hannigan. (You'd never think it seeing him in the film, but he's actually got a strong Scottish accent).

The songs are well-choreographed and the orchestration is marvellous. The ultimate song is one left from the 1982 version: 'N.Y.C.' where all the atmosphere is captured in one shot.

The only real fault is that Kathy Bates isn't very gin-soaked or ahteable even as Miss Hannigan.

This film was made for TV, and yet you wouldn't think it. Granted some of the sets have a studio feel to them, in particular the mansion, you forget about this as the dancing and story sweep away your imagination.

The best advice I can give you on watching this film is to not, as I have done here, continuously compare and contrast this to the 1982 version, as this will deter you from enjoying the full effect of a movie that captures the Broadway atmosphere.

All who value a good musical with fantastic orchestration are gonna like this movie!